The Moto X Will Arrive On August 23 [Report]

Google and Motorola made a big to do about the Moto X earlier this month when they officially unveiled the handset. At the time, they only said that the phone would launch later this year. Now we have a date thanks to a new report.

A report out of Ad Age says that the Moto X will launch on August 23. On that date, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon will all start to offer the device. With the exception of T-Mobile, the other three carriers will charge $199 for the device with a new two-year contract. With T-Mobile, the device will be offered straight from the Motorola site for an undisclosed sum.

Now, one of the more interesting aspects of the Moto X is the customization options available to consumers. The Moto Maker Web app will allow Moto X buyers to essentially design their own phone with a number of custom backs and colors. The phone will then be assembled at a factory in Texas, and shipped to you.

Unfortunately, the Moto Maker app will be exclusive to AT&T subscribers at launch. Everybody else will be stuck with the stock black and white colors. AT&T’s exclusivity will not last long, however, as Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile subscribers can start using the Moto Maker app come November.

We now know that you’ll be able to get a Moto X on August 23, but will it be worth it? The device sports some decent specs including a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU, 2GB of RAM, Android 4.2.2, 16GB of internal storage and a 10MP rear camera. It also features some unique sensors that can detect speech and movement, including a camera that can be turned on with the flick of a wrist.

If you’re an AT&T subscriber, the availability of the Moto Maker at launch might make the Moto X a viable choice for those looking for something new. As for everybody else, you’re better off waiting until the Moto Maker launches for your carrier in November. The phone has some neat gimmicks, but Motorola unwisely locked its best gimmick behind carrier exclusivity.